Spain has taken the most ambitious step on immigration reform seen in Europe for years. On 2 February 2026, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez released a video message defending a royal-decree that will allow an estimated half-million undocumented migrants and asylum-seekers to obtain residence and work authorisation from April. The measure emerged from a Popular Legislative Initiative backed by more than 700,000 signatures, the Catholic Church and 900 civil-society organisations, and was unblocked after negotiations between Podemos and the governing Socialist Party.
Under the decree, applicants must prove they were already living in Spain—or had lodged an asylum claim—before 31 December 2025 and show a clean criminal record. Successful applicants receive a one-year residence permit that can be converted into standard immigration categories, giving them access to the formal labour market, health care and social security. Family unity is prioritised: minor children will be regularised simultaneously and issued five-year permits.
Sánchez framed the policy as a choice for “dignity, community and justice”, contrasting it with the hard-line stance of many EU partners and the United States. Advocates say regularisation will boost tax revenues, reduce labour exploitation and help fill Spain’s chronic skills gaps in agriculture, hospitality, elder-care and construction. Business groups have largely welcomed the move, noting that Spain’s working-age population is projected to contract by 800,000 over the next decade.